Typewriting machine



W. F. HELMOND.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25. 19:9.

Patnted Feb. 7, 1922.

2 SHLEY$-SHEET1- w. F. HELMOND.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-25.1919.

1,405,413, Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM F. HELMOND, OF HARTFORROONNECTICUT,

ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPAN Y, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y.,-A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING aoninn.

moans.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Feb. 7, 192 2,

Application filed April 25, 1919 Serial No. 292,703.

Z 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. ,HnL- MONI), a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, in the county of Hartford key without causing the usual vibration of the inking ribbon up in front of the platen and also without operating the ribbon-spool drive; and another object is to improve the connection between the space-key and the dog rocker which spaces the typewriter carriage. v

It has been the practice heretofore in the Underwood typewriting machine to operate not only the typewriter carriage, but also the ribbon-vibrator, as well as the ribbonspool drive, by means of a universalbar frame, and the space-key has been connected to operate said universal bar frame. .According to the present improvements, the space-key is not connected to the universal bar frame, 'but operates the dog rocker independently. The connection from the space-key to the dog rocker herein illustrated includes a slide which actuates the rocker, and a link connecting the slide to the space-key lever or bell-crank. The slide may be adapted to limit the throw of the dog rocker when operated by the universal bar.

Since in the Underwood typewriting'machine the ribbon spool drive 1s driven by the universal bar, the present invention provides that the spools remain idle when the space-key is operated, as well as the remainder of the ribbon mechanism, including the device which vibrates the ribbon up in front of the platen. Since the space-key is operated about once every six strokes, it will be seen that a substantial percentage of noise of operationis eliminated by keeping the ribbon entirely silent at the operation of the space-key. Moreover, friction is substantially reduced.

Heretofore, according to the usual practice, the space-key has directly actuated a I rocking frame, to which was pivoted the universal bar, and since this rocking frame and universal bar were weighty and were operated there was objectionable noise comparatively at high speed, at their operation, particularly since the weight and speed combined caused them to rebound or rattle against that the space-key frame which operated them. This source of noise is entirely eliminated by permitting both the universal bar and the rocking frame to remain silent at the space-key operation. In carrying outmy present improvement, the space-key simply operates the dog-rocker, which is comparatively small and light, and works without appreciable noise. Moreover, at the point of ,loose connection between the space-key frame and the train of devices that operate the dog-rocker, there is provided a light spring which constantly takes up the play so that there is no liability of rattle.

part of the space-key bar and The mechanism employed in carrying out my present invention len thens the life of the machine by avoiding the wear upon the ribbon-operating parts and other parts that remain inoperative to the space-key strokes.

oreover, the effort of striking the space key is substantially reduced, so that it can be operated with about one fifth of the force heretofore required in nachines of this class.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a sectional side view of an Underw0odtypewriting machine, largely diagrammatic, showing my invention as applied thereto, the parts being in normal po sition. I

Figure 2 is a view of a few of the parts shown in Figure 1, showing their position when the space-key is actuated.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the space-key, and link which connects it to the dog rocker.

Figure 4 is a dissected View of the slide rod, which operatesthe dog rocker, together with its bushing.

Figure 5 is a side View of the link which connects the slide rod to the space-key-operated arm.

As usual in the Underwood machine, keys 10 and levers 11 are depressed to swing bellcranks 12, which engage type-bars 13, to swing the latter up against a platen 14, which is driven by a spring barrel l5, and has a rack 16 meshing with a pinion 17, connected to an escapement wheel 18, which is operated by a dog rocker 19, the latter being actuated by a bar 20, forming part of a frame 21, to which is aiiixed a universal bar 22, operable by wheels 23 on the type-bars, The universal bar is slidably supported at its front end in any usual or desired manner, and is supported at its rear end on the usual rock arms 23 fast on the usual shaft 23", to which is also fast the usual downwardly projecting fork 23, which is adapted to operate the usual ribbon-spool drlve (not shown).

The frame 21 operates a mechanism to vibrate a ribbon up and down in front of the platen at the type-strokes, said mechanism including a vibrating lever 2a. The frame 21 is drawn forward at the return stroke of a key by the spring 245*.

A space-key 25, at the front of the keyboard, instead of operating the frame 21, as commonly heretofore, and hence idly vibrating the ribbon, and also similarly idly operatlng the ribbon-spool drive, is connected to operate the dog rocker 19, while the frame 21 remains stationary. Said key 25 is mounted upon arms 26, which are fixed to a horizontal rock-shaft 27, 'ournaled in the base 28 of the machine. About midway of said rock-shaft, there is secured thereto an arm 29, extending upwardly and rearward-1y, and havinga split hub and a securing screw 30, whereby it is attached to the rock-shaft. A link 31 extends rearwardly from the arm 29 and is pivoted at 32 to the forward end of a slide 33, forming an operating member, whose rear end has a head 34 to engage the lower end of the dog rocker 19; said dog rocker carrying a fixed dog 35 and a stepping dog 36, the latter normally in engagement with the escapement wheel 18.

The slide 33 is in the form of a rod, upon the forward end of which is screwed a head 37, which is slotted at 38 to receive the rear end of the link 31, this head normally hearing against a stop 39, which is in the form of a bushing threaded into .a casting to, forming part of the framework of the machine, and afilording a sliding support for the slide 33 the stop 39 adjustably limiting the rearward or return stroke of the slide 33. The head 3 1 serves to normally hold the dog rocker arrested, with the stepping dog 36 holding the escapement wheel 18, and has a screw-driver nick 41, whereby it may be threaded into the head or shoulder 37.

Upon depression of the space-key 25, the shaft 27 is rocked and the arm 29 is swung forwardly, carrying with it the link 31 and the slide 33; the head 34 engaging the head of an adjusting screw 42 provided in the split lower end of the rocker 19, thereby to swing the rocker and feed the escapement wheel 18 and carriage 43. Upon release of the key from'pressure, a spring at, coiled gagement with the lower edge frame 28, the stud- 49 around the rock-shaft 27, returns the key, bringing the pads 45 thereon up into enof the framework 28, said framework also having pads 16 to arrest the key upon its downward stroke. The remaining parts return also to normal positions, the usual spring lfrestoring the dog rocker 19, the screw 42 thereon resting against the head 34: of the slide, which, in turn, rests against the stop 39. The pivotal or angularposition of throw of the dog rocker may be varied by adjusting the screw 42; and the'head of the bushing 39 is also adjustable for varying thenormal position of the slide 33 thereby to vary the amplitude or extent or" movement of the dog rocker. By reason of the fact that the head end of the screw 12 abuts against the adj ustable head 34, the position of the dog rocker 19 may be varied without varying the ex tent of its throw.

At its forward end the adjusting screw 42 abuts against an abutment-forming member mounted on the casting 40, as appears in Figure 2. Thus it will be seen that the screw 412 forms an adjusting device for varying the angular position of the dog rocker independently ot the means for varying. its amplitude of throw, and also independently of the means for operating the dog rocker. 95

The link 31 may be detachably connected to the arm 29 by means of a key-hole slot 48, formed in the forward end thereof, to engage a headed stud as) upon the arm 29. Ac-

' cidental detachment of the-link may be pre- 10c vented by a spring-finger 50, secured at its lower end by a screw 51 to the arm 29, and

its upper end pivoted in the key-hole slot 48,

to keep the small end of the latter in en gagement with the stud 19. When it is desired to detach the link from the arm, it is only necessary to unhook the spring 50 from the slot, and then pull the-link forwardly and take it off from the stud. I It is to be noted that the space-key 25 has a fixed amplitude of throw determined by the stop-pads 4:5 and 46, thereby giving an unvarying touch, while the throw of the operating member 33 is variable, as above noted, and its throw is determined by the 113 position of adjustment of the stop-forming bushing 39. By reason of this construction,

in the return movement of the slide 33, its

head 37 may come into contact with the ad-= justable stop 39, and after this the space-key 129 25 may continue its retlurn movement until its stop-pad 15 comesi to contact with the oving backwardly in the slot 18, it being understood. of course,

that the return spring 44: is stronger than thetake-up spring 50. it will be seen that the space-key operates the dog rocker without operating the universal bar frame, and'hence without lifting the ribbon or operating the ribbon spool 130 tion with a traveling carriage, of a unlversal whenever the type-keys are struck. More over, the screws which serve to ad ust the throw of-the dog rocker by the universal bar also serve to control the connection of the dog rocker to and its operation by the spaceke Y Y l ariations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvem'entsmay be used wlthout others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combinabar, a vibrator to vibrate a ribbon and operated by said universal bar, an arm operated by said universal bar to operate a ribbon feed, a dog rocker adapted to be operated by said universal bar, a space-key for operating the dog rocker independently of the universal bar and the vibrator and arm, means for varying the extent of throw of the dog rocker, and means for varying the position of the dog rocker while maintaining the same extent of throw thereof.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage, of a universal bar, a vibrator to vibrate a ribbon and operated by said universal bar, an arm oper-' ated by said universal bar to operate a ribbon feed, a dog rocker adapted to be op erated by said universal bar and also adapted to operate independently of the universal bar,'a screw stop for limiting the throw of the dog rocker in one direction, an operating member for operating the dog rocker in one direction and for limiting its. movement in the other direction, and a stop for limiting the throw of said operating member to enable it to limit the throw of the dog rocker.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage, of a universal bar, a vibrator to vibrate a ribbon and operated by said universal bar, an arm operated by said universal bar to operate a ribbon feed, a dog rocker adapted. to be operated by said universal bar and also adapted to operate independently of the universal bar, a screw stop for limiting the throw of the dog-rocker in one direction, an'operating member for operating the dog rocker in'one direction and for limiting its movement in the other direction, a stop for lim'itingthe throw of said operating member to enable it to limit the throw of'the dog rocker, said stop being adjustable, a space-key, and a link detachably connected to said space-key and adapted to operate said operating memberf 4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage, of a dog rocker for controlling said carriage, a uni vcrsal bar adapted to operate said dog rocker and adapted to permit the dog rocker to operate independently of it, a screw threaded into said rocker forming a lug for limiting its throw in one direction, an operating head adapted to strike the other end of the screw to limit the throw of the rocker in the other direction, a bushing in which said operating head slides, a thread in which said bushing is adapted to be turned to'adjust the end of it, a hub fast to said operating head and adapted to strike againstsaid end to limit the throw of the operating head, a space-key, an arm fast tosaid space key, and a link pivoted to said hub and detachably connected to saidarm to enable the space-key to operate the dog rocker.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a dog rocker adapted to feed it, of a frame in which said rocker is journaled, a universal bar adapted to vibrate said rocker and to allow the rocker to vibrate independently of the universal bar, a slide comprising an operating head for limiting the throw of said rocker in one direction, a bushing for said slide comprising an end and threaded in the frame to be adjustable, and an end on said slide adapted to strike said bushing end to limit the throw of the operatinghead.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage anda dog rocker adapted to feed it, of a frame in which said rocker is journaled, a universal bar adapted to vibrate said rocker and to allow the rocker to vibrate independently of the universal bar, a slide comprising an operating'head for limiting the throw of said rocker in one direction, a bushing for said slide comprising an end and threaded in the frame to be adjustable, an end on said slide adapted to strike said bushing and to limit adjustable in said rocker adapted to strike said frameto limit the throw of-the rocker, a space-key, an arm fast to said space key, and-a detachable link connecting said arm to'said slide end.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a dog rocker adapted to feed it, of a frame-in which said rocker is journaled, a universal bar adapted to vibrate said rocker and to allow the rocker to vibrate independently of the universalbar, a slide comprising an opera-tin head for limiting the throw of said roc er in one direction, a bushing for said slide comprising an end and threaded in the frame to be adjustable, an end on said slide adapted to strike said bushing end to limit the throw of the operating head, a space-key, a rock arm operated by said spacekey, a link connected to said rock arm and pivoted to the slide head and adapted to be slid along said rock arm'to be detached therefrom, and a spring holding said link in at-v tached position upon the rock arm.

105 the throw-of the operating head, a screw 8. in a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a dog rocker pivoted intermediate its ends for feeding it, of a universal bar tor operating the dog rocker, at one side of its pivot an permitting it to be operated independently of the universal bar, an operating member on the other side of the pivot for operating the dog rocker independently of the universal bar, a space-key connected to said operating member, an adjustable stop for varying the extent of movement of said operating member to enable it to vary the extent of throw of the dog rocker, and means for varying the angular pivotal position of throw 0f-the dog rocker while maintaining the same extent of throw thereof.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a dog rocker pivoted intermediate its ends for feeding it, of a universal bar adapted to operate said dog rocker at one side of its pivot, and to allow it to be operated independently of the universal bar, anoperating head on the other side of thepivot for operating the universal bar, a space-key connected to said operating head, a stop for limiting the throw of said operating head to enable it to limit the throw of the dog rocker, and a screw adjustable in said dog rocker adapted to limit its throw in the opposite direction.

10. The combination with a dog rocker pivoted intermediate its ends, of a universal bar adapted to strike said rocker on one side of its pivot to push it in one direction to operate it, an operating head adapted to strike said rocker on the opposite side of its pivot to rock it, a slide for said head, a bushing for said slide having a threaded surface to enable it to be adjusted lengthwise of the slide and having an end to serve as a stop, a second head on said slide adapted to strike said bushing end to limit the throw of the operating head, and a space-key for operating said slide.

11. The combination with a dog rocker pivoted intermediate its ends, of a universal bar adapted to strike said rocker on one side of its pivot to push it in one direction to operate it, an operating head adapted to strike said rocker on the opposite side of its pivot to rock it, a slide for said head, a bushing for said slide having a threaded surface to enable it to be adjusted lengthwise of the slide and having an end to serve as a stop, a second head on said slide adapted to strike said bushing end to limitthe throw of the operating head, a rock arm comprising a pin, a link comprising a slot adapted to be hooked over said pin and connected to said second head, and a space-key fast to said rock arm.

12. T he combination with a dog rocker pivoted intermediate its ends, of a universal bar adapted to strike said rocker on one side of its pivot to push it in one direction to operate it, an operating head adapted to strike said rocker on the opposite side of its pivot to rock it, a slide for said head, a bushing for said slide having athreaded surface to enable it to be adjusted lengthwise ot the slide and having an end to serve as a stop, a second head on said slide adapted to strike said bushing end to limit the throw of the operatin head, a rock arm comprising a pin, a lin comprising a slot adapted to be hooked over said pin and connected to said second head, a space-key fast to said rock arm, and a spring for holding said link in one end of said slot.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a space-key having a fixed throw, a traveling carriage, a dog rocker in control of the carriage, an operating member for the dog rocker torminga stop for the dog rocker to limit its return movement, a stop for limiting the return movement of the operating member before the completion of the return movement of the space-key, and operating connections between the space-key and the operating member for permitting the spacekey to complete its return movement after the operating member in its return movement has come into contact with said stop.

' 1 3i. lin a typewriting machine, the combination of a space-key having a fixed throw, a traveling carriage, a dog rocker in control of the carriage, an operating member for the dog rocker forming a stop for the do rocker in one direction of its movement, a justing means for varying the extent of throw of the operating member for thereby correspondingly varying the extent of throw of the dog rocker, and operating connections between the space-key and the operating member for permitting the full throw of the s ace-key while providing for limited variab e throw. of the operating member.

15. lin a typewriting machine, the combination of a traveling carriage, a dog rocker in control of the carriage, an operating member for the dog rocker, adjusting means for p varying the extent of throw of the operating member for thereby correspondingly varying the extent of throw of the dog rorker, a space-key having a fixed throw, operating connections between the space-key and the operating member for permitting the full throw of the space-key while providing for limited variable throw of the operating member, and adjusting means for varying the position of the dog rocker while maintaining the same extent of throw thereof.

16. lln a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a dog rocker for feeding the carriage, of a umversal bar for operating the dog rocker and allowing it to be operated independently of the universal bar, an operating member for operating the dog rocker independently of the universal bar, means for adjusting the llld - pendently of the universal bar,

relative position of the operating member, a space-key, and operating connections between t 1e space-key and the operating member including a spring take-up device to compensate for the various positions of adjustment of the operating member.

17 In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a dog rocker pivoted intermediate its ends for feeding the carriage, of a universal bar for engaging the dog, rocker at one side of its pivot to operate the dog rocker and to allow the dog rocker to be operated independently of the universal bar, an operating member for engaging the dog rocker at the other side of its pivot to operate the dog rocker indea space-key, a rock-arm operated by the space-key, a link forming a lost-motion connection between the rock-arm and the operating member, and

a spring for taking up such lost motion.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a dog rocker pivoted intermediate its ends for feeding the carriage, of a universal bar for engaging the dog rocker at one side of its v pivot to operatethe dog rocker and to allow the dog rocker to be operated independently of the universal bar, an operating member for engaging the dog rocker at the other side of its pivot for operating the dog rocker independently of the universal bar, means for. adjusting the position of the operating member relatively to the dog rocker, a space-key, a rock-arm operated by the space-key, a link connected to the operating member and connected to the rock-arm and having lost motion in its connections,

and a spring for taking up such lost motion to compensate for the "arious positions of adjustment of the operating member.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a dog rocker, means "for operating the dog rocker, means for varying the extent of throw of the dog rocker, and a device for varying the position of the dog rocker independently of said last-mentioned means while maintaining the same extent of throw thereof.

20. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a dog rocker, means for operating the dog rocker, stops for the dog rocker, said stops being relatively adjustable for varying the amplitude of rocker, and means for varying the angular position of the dog rocker without changing its amplitude of throw, said means comprising an adjusting screwcarried by the dog rocker to engage said stops.

21. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a traveling carriage, a universal bar, a dog rocker for controlling the carriage and adapted to be operated by the universal bar and also adapted to be operated independently of the universal bar, a screw stop for limiting the throw of the dog rocker in one direction, an operating member for operating the dog rocker in one direction and for limiting its movement in the other direction, an adjustable stop for limiting the throw of the operating member to enable it to limit the throw of the dog rocker, and means in eluding a space-key for operating the operating member.

WILLIAM F. HELMOND. Witnesses:

JOHN J. BASKERVILLE. SHIRLEY E. GLEDHILL.

throw of the dog 

